Our government was built with checks and balances specifically to prevent a person like Trump from becoming too powerful even if elected to our highest office. Our Republican-led Congress has completely refused It’s responsibility to be a check on this administration and could not have failed more completely in this regard.

Our other institutions, however, have pushed back, all while under a relentless attack by our President, whose obvious goal is to de-legitimize them as institutions and consolidate power in his presidency. President Trump has been attacking our institutions, but recently some lines were crossed. One of Trump’s favorite targets has been our free press. He even went as far as to label it “the enemy of the people”. That was dangerous, but Trump’s recent statement of support for Saudi Arabia after the government killed a Washington Post reporter and US resident should be taken as a direct threat by every journalist.

The statement confirms to the world the United States of America has no values that can’t be bought.

For his next trick, Trump tried to essentially make seeking asylum in the US close to impossible. Our Judiciary pushed back on this unconstitutional move and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order. Trump attacked the courts and the Judge, but apparently this time he crossed a line with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Roberts issued a statement as a rebuke to the President in defense of our independent judiciary as an institution.

It is not normal for the Chief Justice of the nation’s highest court to rebuke a sitting president, but that only highlights the serious nature of our threat.

This president also happens to be under investigation for some extremely serious crimes including conspiring with Russia to interfere with the 2016 election. Trump has done everything possible to impede and de-legitimize the investigation, the FBI as an institution, and the entire Department of Justice.

And… That was just one week!

We wanted to highlight the above because it’s important, but also to make the case that someone with Trump’s disdain for our institutions cannot be trusted to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.

There is bipartisan support behind a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Some democrats have suggested tying this to a “must pass” spending bill the government needs to pass to keep the lights on by December 8th.

ACTION: Let our MoCs know that no one is above the law!

Rep. Pramila Jayapal: DC - 202-225-3106; Seattle - 206-674-0040

Rep. Adam Smith: DC - 202-225-8901; Renton - 425-793-5180

Senator Patty Murray: DC - 202-224-2621; Seattle - 206-553-5545

Senator Maria Cantwell: DC - 202-224-3441; Seattle - 206-220-6400

Script:

“By firing AG Jeff Sessions, Trump is obviously trying to make a move on the Mueller investigation. The investigation must be allowed to proceed. The Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, while not perfect, does have bipartisan support. This must be included as part any must pass spending bill on or before December 8th”